Long Beach State University Athletics
LaTanya Sheffield Chosen Once Again To Help Lead Team USA In Tokyo 2020
10/30/2019 4:04:00 PM | Track and Field
Sheffield served in the same capacity at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Women's Track and Field Head Coach LaTanya Sheffield will once again take the international stage as the Long Beach State coach has been selected to coach the women's sprints and hurdles for Team USA at a second straight Olympic Games.
"The confidence that USA Track & Field has in me, as well as the tremendous support from the Long Beach State athletics program is a huge honor and a blessing," said Sheffield. "To have a nod from your peers is an amazing feeling."
Appointed for the second time to the Team USA Olympic coaching staff, Sheffield served in the same role in the 2016 Olympics in Rio where she guided the Americans to Gold Medals in both the 4x100 and 4x400 relays as well as three other sprint medals and five hurdles medals, including a podium sweep of the 100m hurdles.
Sheffield's 2020 selection comes on the heels of a strong performance at the 2019 Pan American Games in Peru, where she served as the head coach for the entire women's track and field program as Team USA won 18 combined medals. Sheffield has served as an assistant coach for the women's sprinters on multiple occasions at the World Championships, and was in charge of the women's sprints, hurdles and relays at the 2007 and 2011 Pan American Games as well.
With personal experience as an Olympic athlete, Sheffield's knowledge will be beneficial for Team USA. She was inducted into the 1993 Hall of Fame as a top tier hurdler at San Diego State. Her successes include making the Olympic team and becoming a finalist in the 400m hurdles at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea. Prior to her professional career, Sheffield was a two-time All-American and NCAA Champion in the 400m hurdles.
Sheffield recently concluded her sixth year as the assistant head coach at the Beach and had one of her most successful seasons. In 2019, she was able to lead the men's program to their 11th conference title. In 2018, the Beach made history as Sheffield coached the women's team to their first ever conference title.
"The confidence that USA Track & Field has in me, as well as the tremendous support from the Long Beach State athletics program is a huge honor and a blessing," said Sheffield. "To have a nod from your peers is an amazing feeling."
Appointed for the second time to the Team USA Olympic coaching staff, Sheffield served in the same role in the 2016 Olympics in Rio where she guided the Americans to Gold Medals in both the 4x100 and 4x400 relays as well as three other sprint medals and five hurdles medals, including a podium sweep of the 100m hurdles.
Sheffield's 2020 selection comes on the heels of a strong performance at the 2019 Pan American Games in Peru, where she served as the head coach for the entire women's track and field program as Team USA won 18 combined medals. Sheffield has served as an assistant coach for the women's sprinters on multiple occasions at the World Championships, and was in charge of the women's sprints, hurdles and relays at the 2007 and 2011 Pan American Games as well.
With personal experience as an Olympic athlete, Sheffield's knowledge will be beneficial for Team USA. She was inducted into the 1993 Hall of Fame as a top tier hurdler at San Diego State. Her successes include making the Olympic team and becoming a finalist in the 400m hurdles at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea. Prior to her professional career, Sheffield was a two-time All-American and NCAA Champion in the 400m hurdles.
Sheffield recently concluded her sixth year as the assistant head coach at the Beach and had one of her most successful seasons. In 2019, she was able to lead the men's program to their 11th conference title. In 2018, the Beach made history as Sheffield coached the women's team to their first ever conference title.
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